How to Write a Book for Beginners

About this video

Dale gives a beginner step-by-step for writing a first book, based on his own experience producing over 40 books in seven different languages under his name alone, while noting his first book was his hardest because he had zero experience and guidance. Step one is to know your end goal — length, type or topic, reading audience and ultimate outcome — and work backwards, drafting a basic outline. For fiction, outline the character, their problems and what makes the story enticing; for nonfiction, outline the key points, what the reader will gain and how you solve their problems. He says to organize ideas in logical order, then when writing, resist reading or organizing and save that for editing. Next, set daily writing goals: he cites Stephen King’s book On Writing recommending a minimum of 1,000 words a day six days a week, with King writing 2,000 words a day, and suggests beginners start with a half hour per day until consistent for at least a week, then switch to a minimum daily word count. Finally, don’t sweat the small stuff — title choice, cover design, marketing, promotion and formatting — and keep the roles of writer and editor 100% separate, not inviting the inner editor until the first draft is done.

Key takeaways

• Start by knowing the end goal — length, type/topic, audience and outcome — then work backwards into a basic outline
• For fiction outline character and problems; for nonfiction outline key points, reader gain and problem solved
• Begin with a half hour of writing per day, then after a consistent week move to a minimum daily word count
• Dale cites Stephen King recommending 1,000 words a day six days a week, while King himself writes 2,000 a day
• Keep writer and editor roles separate and ignore title, cover, marketing and formatting until the first draft is finished

Episode details: published June 21, 2017 · 5:10 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dale L. Roberts’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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